MEDITATIONS FROM REVELATION

 

August 6 , 2008

Reading:  Revelation 3:7-13

 

"You have a little strength” Rev 3:8.

 

Depending on the point of view and the context in which these words are spoken they could be good news or bad news. Negatively it could be said of a youngster trying out for and hoping beyond hope that he can qualify for his school’s football team. The coach permits him to run a few plays then calls him to the sidelines and tells him he is not strong enough. He has a little strength but not enough to play football. On the other hand if a person has been in a serious accident and is close to death, he will be pleased to hear his nurse tell his parents, “He has a little strength, I think he will make it.”

Here, to the church at Philadelphia, Jesus says, “You have a little strength.” Is that good news or bad news? Read on—“[You] have kept My word, and have not denied My name.” That is good news. Look what that “little strength” enabled them to do. “You have kept My word.” This is something that is not always easy to do, in fact, it is something that many with greater strength have failed to do. Consider David: the King of Israel, filled with power; at the nod of his head the executioner will cut off the head of a murderer. Great strength, great power, and also great sins.

You may consider yourself to have little strength in the overall things of God but you have hidden His Word in your heart that you might not sin against Him whom you dearly love.  Mary had a little box of ointment but she gave it all to Jesus and heard Him say, “She has done what she could” Mark 14:8. Listen to the words of Jesus in Luke’s report of the occasion:

 

“Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little." Then He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven" Luke 7:44-48

 

 She did not have much but she gave everything she had. The Believers at Philadelphia had little strength but they used it wisely—they kept Jesus’ Word and resisted the temptation to deny Him. Remember Peter? A strong fisherman, boisterous and scared of nothing, yet when approached by a girl He denied the One for whom he had left everything.

What is Christ’s reward for those faithful Believers?

 

“I have set before you an open door.”

 

What a joy, what a privilege! An open door, an invitation into the very presence of Jesus, and, beyond that, no one can shut it.” How different to the luke warm Believers who were neither hot nor cold and of whom Jesus said “Because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth” Rev 3:16. What a difference. They were strong in the eyes of the world, they said, “I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing” Rev 3:17.

They also were presented with a door but it was closed and overgrown with vines. Jesus stood outside of their door knocking to be let in.” This is not a picture of the lost but of the heart of a Believer who has shut Jesus out of his life. He is luke warm and should he remain that way Jesus will vomit Him out of His mouth.

Yes, our text is of a very positive nature. Whatever God has given us, be it little or much, He is pleased when we return it to Him in its entirety.

 

“Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.” Matt 25:23.